Martin Freeman nearly blew Sherlock role

MARTIN FREEMAN almost blew his audition for hit TV show SHERLOCK when he was targeted by a thief hours before meeting producers.

Freeman plays the detective's sidekick, Dr. Watson, in the British drama but he failed to impress the show's bosses on his first tryout.

The Hobbit star was distracted during the audition after his wallet was stolen earlier in the day, and he had to return for a second run-through to persuade producers he was right for the role.

Freeman tells Britain's Radio Times magazine, "I'll admit maybe I was a bit stressed. But a week later my agent rang and said, 'Listen, this Sherlock thing, they're sort of under the impression you weren't that into it.' And I said 'Oh... I am really interested. Please call them and let them know that I am interested.' I wasn't being blase about it at all. I just wasn't on my best day."

Freeman credits his chemistry with co-star Benedict Cumberbatch with helping him land the role, adding, "I came in again, read with Benedict and it instantly worked, it seemed to me... I thought he was a fantastic actor and there was something about our rhythms, similarities and differences that meant that it just happened."

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